Cape Town — The Department of Defence and Military Veterans is to embark on a policy review to include South Africa's obligations to peace and security and humanitarian assistances outside its borders.

Addressing Parliament during her Budget Vote on Friday, Department of Defence and Military Veterans Minister Lindiwe Sisiulu said that one of the department's challenges was its outdate policy on defence.

"A new policy review would consider the logic that underpins the necessity of a Force Design of the South African National Defence Force that must be able to contribute appropriately to disaster relief, peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance."

She said this was part of the South Africa's obligation to consolidate democracy in countries that have recently emerged from conflict. This has become part of foreign policy.

"We are embarking on a Policy Review. We want to take on board what we have become and take into account new challenges facing us as a country and as a continent," she said.

She said that the department was developing a review document which would be distributed for comment once consolidated.

"The strategy focuses on the achievement of the mandate by having the required capabilities, as opposed to being a financially driven strategy," said Ms Sisulu.

She added that the defence environment changed over the past 15 years and this required a new approach and new thinking.